MLB Player News

Wacha (shoulder) will make a rehab start for Triple-A El Paso on Saturday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The expectation is that Wacha will throw between 50-60 pitches in his first live action since July 1. Wacha has been ramping up slowly after a brief shutdown period following his placement on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. He figures to require at least one more rehab outing beyond Saturday before slotting back into the Padres' rotation.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that Eovaldi (forearm) will be out for another 2-3 weeks, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Bochy had previously expressed optimism that Eovaldi would be able to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible next weekend, but the 33-year-old right-hander just resumed throwing on flat ground and still has a lot of hurdles to clear in his recovery from a forearm strain. He's now tracking more toward a late August return.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Friday that France is being moved to the bullpen only temporarily, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

France will be available in relief as a piggyback option Sunday behind Jose Urquidy (shoulder), who is returning from the 60-day injured list to start the Astros' series finale with the Yankees. Even though France will move to the bullpen this weekend, the Astros seem willing to roll with a six-man rotation for at least a portion of the stretch run. The 28-year-old France has delivered a sharp 2.85 ERA through 91.2 innings (15 starts) this season with Houston.

Keuchel will make his Twins debut in a start Sunday versus the Diamondbacks, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Keuchel could get a long look in the Minnesota rotation as Joe Ryan spends at least a few weeks on the IL while recovering from a lingering groin strain. It's hard to know what to expect from Keuchel as a fantasy streaming option, but the veteran left-hander had pitched to an impressive 1.13 ERA with 28 strikeouts across 32 innings (six starts) for Triple-A St. Paul since inking a minor-league contract with the Twins on June 22.

Musgrove was diagnosed with inflammation in his right shoulder capsule Friday and placed on the 15-day injured list. He will be shut down for at least three weeks, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Shoulder soreness kept Musgrove from making his scheduled start Wednesday against Colorado, and the issue has now been identified as something that will keep him on the shelf for a considerable amount of time. The Padres haven't yet ruled out Musgrove for the rest of the season, but they might need the incentive of a late playoff push to put him back on the mound in 2023.

Falter said he will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Saturday against the Brewers, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

The transaction likely won't be made official until shortly before Saturday's game, but Falter is currently with the big club and preparing to make his first MLB start since May and his first with Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old southpaw held a 5.13 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through 40.1 innings this season with the Phillies before he was dealt to the Pirates on Tuesday. He'll be facing a Brewers offense that ranks last in the National League with a .692 OPS and has struggled against left-handers all season (.683 OPS).

Astros manager Dusty Baker confirmed Friday that Urquidy (shoulder) will return from the 60-day injured list and start Sunday versus the Yankees, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

J.P. France is set up for piggyback relief duties and will likely stay in the Astros bullpen moving forward. Urquidy surrendered five earned runs on nine hits over five innings in his final rehab start last Sunday at Triple-A Sugar Land, but he seems fully recovered from the bout of shoulder inflammation that sent him to the injured list in early May.

Houck (face), who is beginning a rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Worcester, will be stretched out and is expected to rejoin the Red Sox as a starter, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Houck has been sidelined since mid-June, so he will likely need multiple rehab appearances to build up his stamina, potentially setting up a mid-August return. Garrett Whitlock (elbow) will return as a multi-inning reliever.

Whitlock (elbow) will likely join Boston's bullpen once he comes off the 15-day injured list, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

The expectation is that Whitlock will go on a rehab assignment next week and return as a multi-inning reliever, similar to his role for the club in 2021. Whitlock has never topped 78.1 innings in a big-league season, and may fall shy of that mark again this year as he sits on 51.2 innings. Meanwhile, Tanner Houck (face) is expected to get stretched out and return as a starting pitcher.

Bello will start Monday at home against the Royals, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

He could have started Sunday on normal rest, but the Red Sox will use a pair of openers and primary pitchers, likely Nick Pivetta and Chris Murphy, for the final two games of the series against the Blue Jays. Bello has a 3.73 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 48 strikeouts in 62.2 innings over his last 10 starts.